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Oct. 26, 1943. R. PLACE READING MACHINE Filed Sept 21, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 26, 1943;. R PLACE READING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 26, 1943. R. PLACE READING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 21, 1939 IHIIIIIIIIH Get. 26, 1943. R. PLACE 2,332,810

READING MAcfiINE Filed Sept. 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IaierfF/are Oct. 26, 1943. R. PLACE .READING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21,- 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 26, 1943 Robert Place,

Waltham,

Mass., assignor to Graphic Service Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 21, 1939, Serial No. 295,962 1 16 Claims. (01. 88-24) This invention relates to improvements in projection apparatus of the kind known as reading machines and embraces cabinets therefor.

A general object of the invention is to provide a reading machine which is of compact construction, simple in operation and durable in use, all in contrast with the relatively complex devices heretofore provided.

It is also an object to provide a reading machine, so arranged and supported relative to the projection cabinet, that, in one position, it will permit viewing a complete newspaper page or other matter disposed vertical to the edge of the film and, in another position, will permit reading of copy running parallel to the edge of the film, such as smaller books.

Another object is to provide a. reading machine in which all or various selected parts may be positively driven without the necessity of'usin friction clutches, belts or other friction means which are subject to excessive wear and maladjustment.

Another object is to provide a reading machine control system whereby the film advance, rewind, focus and scanning position, all or in any combination, may be operated from a single control center and with onev hand. In one form of the invention, coaxial control shafts may be provided, rotatably and axially movable relative to each other when operating various parts of the machine.

A further object is to provide an improved film gate or glass fiat opening and closing mechanism whereby the actuation. is positive and the film may remain in the same focus both ,while advancing and while the fiats are closed in the normal reading position.

A still further object is to provide an improved mechanism for adjusting the film vertically to its normal advance and rewind position for scanning purposes, as for example, to bring any column of a newspaper to the center of the screen, which mechanism'may be conveniently controlled from the same center as the film advance and focus.

My invention also embraces anovel projection I cabinet and arrangement of the projection mechanism relative to the cabinet and, among the objects and advantages relative to these features, is to provide a cabinet having a shadow box around the screen surface to shield extraneous light and afford the reader complete privacy; a cabinet having a desk shelf to provide writing space for taking notes and the like, thus eliminating any need for separate tables or other furniture; a viewing screen slidably mounted relative to the cabinet to provide for magnification if desired; a cabinet including an enlargement slide which may be used for making prints of the projected subject matter; and an arrangement of the projection apparatus relative tothe cabinet whereby it may be enclosed within the cabinet normally and when in operation and readily opened into loading position at the lap of the seated operator.

Other objects and advantages of the inventio will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with -the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the principles of the invention have been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

Fig. his a side elevational view of a reading cabinet showing a. projector hingedly supported therein;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cabinet of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified portable cabinet having a projector supported in a drawer;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a projector embodying the principles of the present invention andpositioned vertically;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the projector of Fig. 4 from the film side Fig. 6 is a face view of the projector of Fig. 4 taken from the side opposite from that shown in Fig. 5 with the casing removed;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 6

looking in the direction of the arrows and showing th film gate cam operating means;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 9-4 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail prospective of the film gate actuating member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the letter A in Figs. 1 and 2 designates in its entirety a reading cabinet having the image projecting mechanism I!) mounted upon a hinged panel I! of the cabinet, in operative position when the panel is closed, as shown. and in convenient position for lap re-loading when the panel is swung open. A mirror I4 is adjustably mounted in the cabinet A opposite the projector l0 and a viewing screen l5 receiving the refiected image from the mirror It is recessed from the front of the cabinet above-the projector in conand the like thus avoiding any need for separate desks or tables and making the cabineta complete reading and desk unit.

The cabinet A may receive a projector unit according to the present invention and designed to project horizontally on the viewing screen I6 im ages photographed either vertically or horizonthe condenser tube 28 and the sleeve 32 to lock the head 30 in either of its extreme pivoted positions. A spring pressed plunger 13! may be received in the base member 24 to bear against the pin 3| urging the same into a socket 31. The head 30 is thus supported in the cabinet guided as to its pivotal movement for horizontal or vertical" projectionJwhile the, lighting system remains stationary servingas the pivotal axis for the head 30.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the lamp housing 26 mayhav the lamp socket 39 anchored to a disc 4| the disc in turn being secured to a portion ofthe base member. 24 by a single screw or the like 43 which allows the lamp and its socket to be twisted to correct the filament direction.

tally on the film and mounted in the c'abinetto swing on its horizontal axis in a 90 are. An arcuate slot such as at IS in Fig. 2 may be provided in the cabinet projector supporting wall to receive the shaft forming a part of the protruding control members I l which pivot with the projector as a unit.

'A modified form of cabinet designed as a portable unit to be operated on a table or the like is represented in its entirety by 13in Fig. 3. The projector ID for the cabinet B may be horizontally mounted in a sliding drawer, slidable'with the drawer for focusing and in convenient position for lap re-loaciing when the drawer is open,

The head 30 may be boxed by top and bottom walls 38 and 40 and continuous side and end walls 4.2 and 44, respectively. Supported exteriorly of thetop wall 38 of the head 30 are film-reels 46 and mounted on spindles -50'and'52, respectively. The film- 54 loaded onthe reels 46 and 48 is passed around film guides 56 bolted or othererwise secured to the wall 38 andprojectin'g exteriorly thereof astride thefree end portion of the wall 38 is provided witha pair of parallel as shown. "A mirror 20 is adjustably mounted. in

the cabinet B opposite. the projector l and a smooth surfaced screen 22 receiving the reflected I image from the mirror is mounted at the front of the cabinet above the drawer 18 to support tracing paper for tracing the image: Hinged viewing screen '2 may rest atop the cabinet or overlay screen 22 as desired.

The rear of cabinet B may be providediwith an adjustable leg I!) to maintain the device in a selected position convenient to the operator and therewith, mirrors and 21 are hingedly supported in the lower and upper portions of the cabinet, respectively, and swingable to position in the normal light path to deflect the same from the screen 22 and project the image into the area of enlargement slide 23.

A preferred manner of mounting the projector H) is apparent in Figs. 4 and 5. Adjustably secured to the hinged panel l2 or drawer or other wall portion of the cabinet is a lighting system comprising a base 24 fixed to the wall in any predetermined position, an' integral lamp housing 26 having heat radiating fins 29 and a, Sleeve 32. The head 30 of the projecting unit may be provided with a condenser system including a tube 28 tending to rotate Within the sleeve 32 and limited in its relative movement to a 90 arc by a stud 34 projecting from the condenser and riding slots 62 and, bordering the length thereof, a pair ofangle irons 64' each having a pair of apertures 66 and .SIfor, respectively, receiving pins 68 and E9rintegral with opposed pairsof arms 10 and 12 to thereby pivotally support-the arm's lo-and 12 with respectto' the wall 38. Springs 13 may be carried by the depending portion of angle members 64 to bear against arms"!!! and '12 urging them together. Carried by the upper-extremities of opposed'pairs of arms 10 and 12'are frames I4 and l6,respectivelly, supporting glass plates or fiats f8 and 80, each held in its frame by means of springs 82 and forming a film gate. Thus, each plate" and is mounted so as to-be movable relative to the other and away from the normal film line allowing the film to remain in the same-focus both while advancing when the flats 18 and 80 are open and while in normal reading positionwhen the plates are closed. I

A suitable projecting lens systemi mounted in alignment with'the film gate and condenser and includes a boss 84 integral with or mounted upon the forward end of wall 38 and slld'ably receiving a lens barrel '86carrying a rack 88 operable for focusing th projectedimage as hereinafter described. I Y I Coming now to the operating and control means, a hollow control shaft 90 having'a solid concentric shaft 92 extends'fr'om outside the cabinetfthrough the slot l3 in'the wall thereof and through the end wall 44 into the-head 3ll'forming a. line of: drive which may be substantially parallelto the ground or: othercabinet support and at an acute angle to the lineof projection formed along the axis of the pivoted head 30 which is directed slightly upwardly toward the image or light reflecting mirror l4. Of-course, it is within the scope of the invention to arrange the linesv of..drive and projection in parallel or ,atanyother. convenient angleas may be desired, but the foregoing arrangement has been found particularly suitable. in the larger reading machines capable of projecting and viewing a variety of different subject matter,-including a complete newspaper page. u

Keyed to an intermediate portion of the shaft 80 interiorly of the head 30 is a beveled drive gear 94 meshing with a complementary driven gear 96 fastened to a sleeve 88 upon which a carrier plate I is mounted. A driving gear 99 of relatively large diameter is fastened on the upper portion of the sleeve 98 and is permanently in mesh with transfer pinions I02 and I04 mounted on pins I06 and I08 secured to the carrier plate. Pinions H0 and H2 are fastened to film reel spindles 50 and 52, respectively, and lie in the same plane as transfer pinions I02 and I04 to selectively mesh therewith. When the shaft 90 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the carrier I00 will be swung in a clockwise direction, bringing transfer pinion I04 into mesh with pinion H2 to rotate spindle 52 and its reel 48 in a clockwise direction away from companion reel 46 which is free to rotate since the pinion H0 fastened to its spindle 50 is then out of mesh with transfer pinion I02. Conversely, shaft 90 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, swinging the transfer pinion I02 on carrier plate I00 in mesh with pinion H0 thus rotating spindle 50 and its reel 46 to advance or rewind the film as the case may be.

The film gate actuating mechanism includes a cam disc H4, collar H6 and an intermediate leather washer H5, all loosely mounted upon a sleeve H8 which is secured at one end to beveled gear 34 and positioned axially of the shaft 82. A collar I20 is adjustably fixed to the free end of sleeve II 8 to vary the tension of spiral compression springI22 against the loosely mounted collar II 6 to selectively adjust the friction drag on cam disc H4 as the sleeve H8 is rotated with the drive shaft 92.

The disc H4 is provided with a cam plate II I for a purpose hereinafter explained and with a peripheral cam notch I24 inwhich rides apin I26 adjustably carried by a rod I28 journaled in the wall 38 in the lineof projection and to the upper end of which is secured a cam member I30 positioned between the glass plate supporting frames I4 and I of the film gate. The arrangement is such that, when even a slight turn is imparted to the drive shaft 90 to actuate the film advancing means through drive gear 94," cam disc H4 will frictionally tend to rotate therewith; moving pin I26 out of the notch I24 to the high portion of the cam periphery, the pin I26 in turn tending to rotate the cam I30 through the rod I28 to open the frames I4 the wall 38, the other end of which carries a pinion I44 meshing with rack 88 of the lens barrel 86. The shaft 92 is rotatable independently of the shaft 90 by a knob or the like 8 at its outer end, forming a common control center with the crank handle II so that either may be selectively manipulated by the operator with the same hand.

The mechanism for shifting the film vertically of its normal advance and rewind position, such as when scanning, comprises another novel arrangement including the provision of a pair of adjustable modified bell cranks I46 and I48, each pivotally mounted as by a piano hinge or the like I50 to opposite sides of the wall 38'and having bifurcated portions I56 and I58 extending underneath and supporting reels 46 and 48, respectively, so that the film is in full frame position in the film gate. The members I46 and I48 are eccentrically mounted on a disc I52 carrying a bevel gear I54 and supported within the' head by an arm I60. A complementary bevel gear I62 is keyed to the shaft 80 normally out of mesh with gear I 54 but adapted to be urged into meshing engagement therewith when the operator forwardly presses upon the handle II to move shaft 90 axially inward a slight distance against the thrust of spiral compression spring I64 positioned at the opposite end of the shaft 92 adjacent the shaft support I66.

Rotary movement of the shaft 90 in a clockwise direction when thrust inwardly will tend &

and 16 carrying the glass plates 18 and 80. It

should be noted-that due to the swivel drive arrangement in conjunction with the film gate actuating mechanism, the plates always open before any advance is made in the film.

To return the cam disc I I4 to normal position, a tension spring I32 is attached atone end to the camdisc and at its other end to an adjusting screw I34 threaded in a-support I36 to approximately the level of the drive shaft 90. Thus, after initial movement of the disc H4 with the shaft 90 against the tension of spring I32 to actuate cam I30 and opening the film gate, the tension of spring I32 will overcome the frictional forces acting on the disc H4. to return the same to normal position when the shaft 90 remains stationary after the selected film advance and therewith return the cam I30 to normal position and closing the film gate.

To operate the projecting lens system for focusing the projected image, the inner end of shaft 92 extending axially beyond drive shaft 90 carries a worm I 38 meshing with apinion I40 fixed to one end of a rod I42 journaled in tion in the film gate.

to rotate the disc I52 through the gears I62 and I54 in a direction to retract the connecting arms of the bell cranks I46 and I48, elevating the bifurcated portions I56 and I58 thereof to raise the reels 4S and 48 thereby shifting the film upwardly or outwardly of its normal posi- Conversely, rotary movement of the inwardly thrust shaft in a counter-clockwise direction will tend to rotate disc I52 in a direction causing the bifurcated portions I56 and I58 of the bell cranks I46 and I48 to lower the reels 46 and 48 thereby shifting the film downwardly or inwardly of its normal position in the film gate. .Spring tensioned normal full frame position in the film gate. The

fingers I66 and I68 are adapted to be pivotally moved in alignment with spindles 50 and 52 to permit removal and replacement of the reels 46 and 48 when desired.

It will be apparent that when the shaft 90 is thrust inwardly, the sleeve H8 carrying the cam disc H4 will shift therewith to bring cam plate H'I into engagement with the end of pin I26 operating the film gate cam I30 s that when the shaft 90 is rotatably turned to either elevate or lower the film, the cam plate III will operate the cam I30 to open the film gate, the return movement thereof being the same ,as in the normal advance or rewind operation above described.

The operation of the device herein illustrated is believed readily apparent from the foregoing description and explanation thereof and it is understood that the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is merely exemplary of the principles of the invention and capable of such modification as is within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A reading inachine comprising, a cabinet, a screen mounted to slide inwardly and outwardly of said cabinet, -a source of light emitting a beam of light, film advancing and rewinding mechanism including a film gate having plates each movable away from the film during film advancing or rewinding, an objective lens system for focusing an image carried by the film on said screen, a plurality of shafts telescoped one within another and relatively movable axially and rotatably to control said mechanism and said objective, and a head providing a support for said mechanism, objective and control shafts, said head being pivotally mounted relative to said cabinet to selectively position the film vertically or horizontally relative to said light beam.

2. In apparatus for projecting images on a screen including film advancing and rewinding mechanism and an objective lens system, the combination of a plurality of control shafts telescoped one within another and relatively movable axially-and rotatably, each of said shafts having an operating handle or the like at the same end thereof, means for operatively connecting said film advancing and rewinding mechanism to one of said shafts, and means for operatively connecting said objective to another of said shafts.

3. In apparatus for projecting enlarged images on a screen including a condensed source of light, the combination of film advancing mechanism including a gate for intermittently holding the film across a beam of light from said light source, an objective lens for focusing an image carried by said film on a screen, a shaft rotatable to control said film advancing mechanism and operable to intermittently open said gate, and a second shaft telescoped within said first shaft and independently movable to focally adjust said objective lens.

rotatable to'control said film advahcing mecha-= IllJlIl and operable to intermittently open said enlarged I enlarged rigidly secured to the casing forming a wall portion thereof and disposed above said support, a front surfaced mirror in the rear end of said casing and opposed to said projector unit to refiect the projected image therefrom to said smoothsurfaced screen, said screen being adapted to support tracing paper for tracing of the image projected therethrough, a translucent viewing screen hinged exteriorly of the casin and swingable to rest on top of the casing or to overlay said first mentioned screen, a. frame extending interiorly of the casing for supporting a sensitized medium for making prints of the projected image, said frame being slidably received in the front end of the casing between the said screens and said projector support, and a pair of coacting mirrors hinged in the cabinet and shiftable to intercept the image from the projector and direct the same into the area of said frame.

7 In'apparatus for projecting enlarged images on a screen including a condensed source of light, the combination of film advancing mechanism including a gate for intermittently holding the film across a beam of light from said light source, an objective lens for focusing an image carried by said film on a screen, a rotatable shaft operatively connected to said film advancing mechanism and to said gate whereby to open said gate and advance said film upon rotation of the shaft, a second shaft operatively connected to said objective lens whereby to focally adjust said objective lens upon movement of the second shaft, the shafts being telescoped one within the other and relatively movable axially and rotatably, and operating handles or the like for each of said shafts at adjacent ends thereof.

I 8. In apparatus for projecting enlarged images on a screen including a condensed source of light, the combination of film advancing mechanism including a gate for intermittently holding the film across a beam of light from said light source, an objective lens for focusing an image carried by said mm on a screen, a shaft rotatable to control said film advancing mechanism and operable gate, and a second shaft telescoped within said first shaft and independently movable to focally adjust said objective lens, and means for mounting said mechanism, said lens and said shafts for rotary movement about said light beam while the film gate holding the film remains in the path of said light beam so that images carried either horizontally or vertically on said film can be produced on the screen in a horizontal position.

5. In a film reading machine, the combination of a film gate, a pair of spindles having film holding reels mounted thereon, means to selectively rotate said reels to advance or rewind the film through the gate, a pair of pivoted being telescoped one within the other, and means supporting said film advancing mechanism and said control shafts for movement about the axis of the light beam to project the images on said film in either horizontal or vertical position.

9.- In apparatus for projecting enlarged images on a screen including a condensed source of light, the combination of film advancing mechanism including a gate for intermittently holding the film across'a beam of light from said light source, an objective lens for focusing an image carried 5 2v said film on a screen, arotatable shaft opera tively connected to said film advancin mechanism and to said gate whereby to open said gate and advance said film upon rotation of the shaft, a second shaft operatively connected to said objective lens whereby to focally adjust said objective lens upon movement of the second shaft, the shafts being telescoped one within the other and relatively movable axially and rotatably, operating handles or the like for each of said shafts at adjacent ends thereof, and means supporting said film advancing mechanism, objective lens and said control shafts for movement about the axisof the light beam to project the images on said film in either horizontal or vertical position.

10. In a film reading machine, the combination of a film gate, a pair of spindles having film hold ing reels mounted thereon, means to selectively rotate said reels to advance or rewind th film through the gate, a pair of arms each having a slotted portion at one end, the slotted ends each engaging and supporting the bottom of one of with the reel spindle received in the slot, 9, rotatably mounted crank to which the opposite ends of said arms are pivotally secured, and means tending to rotate said crank to shift said arms into position to raise or lower said reels whereby to selectively position the film in the film gate.

11. In apparatus for projecting enlarged images on a screen including a condensed source drive members operatively connecting with said 12. In apparatus for projecting enlarged images on a screen including a condensed source of light, the combination of film holding reels, film advancing mechanism including a gate for intermittently holding the film across a beam of light from said light source. means for raisone within another and relatively movable axially and rotatably, one of said control shafts being normall operatively connected to said film gate and film advancing mechanism whereby to open said gate and advance said film upon rotation of the shaft, the said shaft being movable into another position out of connection with said film advancing mechanism and into operative connection with said film raising or lowering ing removably mounted in the casing, and a sys-' tem of co-acting mirrors mounted in the cabinet, one of said mirrors to and out of optical alignment with the projector and the frame to intercept the image from the projector and direct the same into the second mirror and into the area of said frame.

15. A reading machine cabinet comprising a casing, a support for an image projector unit horizontal position.

16. A reading machine cabinet comprising a casing, a support for an image projector unit ROBERT PLACE.

being selectively shiftable in- 

